Disgraced lawyer Peet Viljoen has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport shortly after arriving in South Africa on Tuesday following his deportation from the United States.
Police confirmed that the 57-year-old was taken into custody by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit moments after landing from New Jersey. He is expected to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court later this week.
Charges Dating Back To 2010
Authorities said Viljoen faces multiple charges including fraud, theft, forgery, uttering, and contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
The charges stem from an extensive investigation into alleged fraudulent property transactions involving the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), a municipal entity owned by the City of Johannesburg.
Investigators allege that in 2010, several JPC-owned properties were unlawfully sold to unsuspecting buyers. Although ownership was transferred, the municipality reportedly never received payment, resulting in significant financial losses.
The cases were originally reported at Sandton and Boschkop police stations before being escalated to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit for further investigation.
Arrest Follows Deportation From US
Viljoen’s arrest comes after he was deported from the United States, where he had been detained following separate legal issues.
Reports indicate that Viljoen and his wife, Mel Viljoen, known for her appearance on The Real Housewives of Pretoria, were previously arrested in the US on allegations linked to retail fraud involving a Florida supermarket chain.
The allegations reportedly involved a long-running scheme of price manipulation at checkout points, though Mel Viljoen has publicly dismissed the claims, describing them as a misunderstanding involving a declined bank card.
Court Appearance Expected
Viljoen is expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Thursday.
Authorities say the investigation into the historic property-related fraud case remains ongoing, with further legal proceedings anticipated as the matter progresses through the courts.
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